Arizona has the fastest growth rate for Alzheimer's disease in the country, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. At the same time, there’s still plenty of stigma surrounding this condition. Now, a new photography exhibition aims to shift the conversation.
It’s called “Portraits of Dementia,” and the exhibit at the Chandler Museum opens this week. Jody Crago is the museum manager.
He says the artist behind the exhibit had a personal connection — both of his grandparents had dementia.
"And so he became inspired with this whole notion of, you know, people should address this syndrome, straight ahead, face forward and not be afraid. Because the people that are affected by this condition, it can feel very isolating and hopeless," Crago said.
And what he hopes visitors to the museum takeaway is that a dementia diagnosis doesn’t change the person living with the disease.
"So as you look at these faces, it could be your neighbor, it could be your grandparent, it could be your friend, it could be your work colleague. And I think that's what's so meaningful about them," Crago said.
The exhibit runs through Oct. 6.
